Skoatl Point

Trail Name: Skoatl Point
Distance: 10.3 km
Time: 3+ hours
Difficulty: Hard
Cell Service: No
Trail Conditions: Single track through the forrest, followed by a scramble up a volcanic plug.
Highlights: Amazing 360 degree views and a scramble up a very unique geological formation.

To get there: The trailhead is a good 2 hour drive from downtown and you must have a vehicle with good ground clearance to make it to the trailhead. From the North Shore, take 8th street all the way out to where it turns into Westsyde rd. Continue on Westsyde rd for about 20 kms before turning left on Jamieson Creek FSR. Continue for about 30km until you pass Whitewood lake. You’ll see a large piece of heavy machinery at a fork, take the left towards Windy Lake. You’ll come to one more fork just past the Windy lake rec site (about another 9km in). Keep to the right. You’ll reach the trailhead shortly. Or see it on Google here. (These are the best directions to get here!)

The trail head is clearly marked with a BC Parks sign. The trail is linear. In the early summer, the area is often swampy, wet, and full of mosquitos. We recommend doing the hike in late summer or early fall. The trail is not heavily used, but it is still easy to follow. When you approach Skoatl point, you’ll want to follow the trail around to the right of the rock formation. There’s some flagging tape to help guide you across the rock slides. There were many fallen trees the last time we were up there, making this route a bit harder as you try to manoeuvre around them. Continue around the perimeter until the trail leads you to the rock face. Here’s where it gets interesting. The trail disappears and you must choose your own route up the side of the volcanic plug. BE CAREFUL! At the top you get a 360 degree view of the surrounding lakes.

The trail to the base of the plug is suitable for anyone however, the scramble up to the top of Skoatl is difficult and steep. Some may decide to turn around at the base. Our medium sized dog was not able to do the scramble and she is too big to carry. Smaller, more portable dogs, could be carried to the top. You might also consider bringing a lunch as it’s a long drive and a long hike. There are two rec sites along the road you came in on that are lovely spots for lunch. The area is also known for bears so bring bear spray and hike in groups.

If you have time, check out Jamieson Creek Falls! This short hike is along the same road as Skoatl Point and brings you to a beautiful waterfall.

The trail is in fine condition with a moderate amount of blowdown. Not much mud and the boardwalks are in good shape. Lots of lupins, lilies and columbine in bloom. Osprey and loons on Adler lake.

Unfortunately the Jamieson Creek FSR is now closed. I got through this morning at about 0845, as the chain gate at the first bridge had been lowered and was laying on the road. The road has numerous serious washouts that have narrowed it to one lane and several repaired portions where water had run across the road, but nothing I couldn’t get around or over in a small 2WD toyota pickup. The chain gate had been raised again when I returned (thankfully it was still only about 8″ off the road) which forced me to stack up rocks and gravel to get over it again.

I heard later that this road is going to remain closed indefinitely. If you manage to make it over or through a gate on the way up, don’t count on it being open again when you come back…. figure out an alternative return route.

We made it today on September 23, 2017. The bridge on Jamieson Creek Road is still missing, but you have to take O’Connor Road (From Westside Road), and turn on Wentworth Forestry Road that will take you to Km15 of Jamieson Creek Road. From there it is clear sailing to Whitewood Lake, where you turn onto Windy Lake Road.
Someone had been there lately with a chainsaw and cleared many windfalls that were blocking the road. But there are still a few on the trail, no problem you can walk around. I was surprised to see how good the trail is; it gets a bit dicey at the base of the plug where you have to walk on rocks before starting the real climb.
The Geocache box is in the open at the base of the flagpole, and I agree with that! If you make the effort to go there you should not have to look all over to find it.
From the summit I sent an OK with my Spot Tracker, and it reported the co-ordinates as Latitude: 51.15430 Longitude: -120.43034
I’m 75, and if I made it then anybody can!

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